2025: Looking Back Part 1

It's been a very cold holiday here near the Homestead.  As of today (Jan. 1st) we have had 22 days with the mercury remaining below freezing.  This morning when I went out to feed the birds it was 12 F.  And of course it came with a stiff breeze.  With the holidays winding down (we still have a full moon party to go on Saturday!) it's almost time to return to our normal programming: practicing piano, reading, writing, gaming, studying maps, watching movies and (for Deb) making short films.  Which is pretty much what we did over the holidays, but with more food.  Here is a photo of my 8th or perhaps 9th Christmas morning.  Dig those curtains and that TV!!

 I got some missiles and rockets for Christmas.  It was that era (c. 1961).

2025 was a fairly cruel year for us, with little to no traveling accomplished.  Deb had two surgeries for kidney stones and I injured my foot in June.  The foot is still quite bad, with my walking limited to slow speeds and short duration.  I will see a podiatrist this month, so hoping for some relief.  Regular medical science has been no help, other than telling me that I have an injured foot.  So health problems kept us close to home.

 

Travel was restricted to two journeys to Sudbury by car.  We now break the drive north up into two days and have been exploring a part of Ontario new to us on the way.  We still come home in one go, about 8 hours of solid driving, plus any stops.  As long as Mom is still there to visit these twice yearly trips will likely continue.  Afterwards, who can say.  We also had a short but fun excursion to Toronto, as Deb was invited to a film festival there that was showing one of her films (Once Upon A Time That Never Was).  We went by train, traveling first class, and stayed at a fancy hotel near the station.  We got to have dinner with Amanda and meet her boyfriend, and also got to see Dino (my best man) and Bill, another good friend.  And that sums up 2025 travel news.

 

Turning to major acquisitions for the year, we purchased a 27 CD set of the Rameau operas; I bought new ice skates and used them a lot; we bought a new very fast gaming computer (Acer Nitro 60) and we got a 55" TV.  Of course a lot of Kindle books were purchased, too, but those I talk about in my monthly reading summaries.

 

In other major news two upgrades to our property were completed: a new back deck and a resurfacing of our very long and very old paved driveway.  In music news I played a Spring recital series (Simple Ingredients) and Deb's poster for "Just a Peek" won an award.  She had three films in competition over the year: Once Upon A Time..., Just a Peek and She Makes A Moving Picture.

 

Being home so much made it a great year for PC gaming.  I played a very old game called "Road To India."  Together we played a beautiful Japanese fold out picture book game called "Tengami."  We played a very challenging SF game called "J.U.L.I.A of the Stars."  A big event was the playing of MYST 2024, the latest version of the game.  Though it had some lows, overall it was the best version of the game I have played, with some big improvements to several ages, including the new Arctic one.  Last year the revised version of Riven blew us away, too.

Of course Train Simworld (6) has been a big hit with me.  I am driving trains in real time and real weather, with seasonal changes in England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the US.  It is such an amazing experience I can't even begin to describe how much this game has been.

Now we come to a true masterpiece of a game, "Everybody's Gone To The Rapture," with music by Jessica Curry.  It's a SF game set in a small English village in 1984, and has to be the most poignant game we have ever played, as well as one of the most beautiful.  The game takes place over one long day, from dawn till dark.  The player explores a vast area indoors and out, trying to figure out what has happened to all of the people, who have mysteriously vanished but left traces of their existence and conversations behind.  The music is as good as the game.  This is a must play game for all gamers.  Brought to you by the people (Chinese Room) that brought us another favourite game, "Dear Esther."

 

I will continue with my look back next time, discussing either best films of the year or best books.  Check back soon.

 

In the meantime there are two recent films to share.  The Color Wheel is from 2011, an American Indie film directed by Alex Ross Perry.  Filmed in b & w and 16 mm, it is billed on Mubi as a very fun road movie comedy.  While there is some driving and even a few funny moments, most of the film is a waste of time and film.  A brother and sister head out on the road to collect her things in a place where she was living with her college professor.  They have broken up.  Along the way they stay in an ultra Christian-run motel, get involved in a scene at the professor's apartment, attend a party held by old high school friends, and head back home, stopping off along the way to talk sister to brother, and to have sex with each other.  A real laugh riot.  I would avoid this one if I were you reading this.

 

Showing on Mubi.
 

 We have a number of films by Wong Kar Wai in the Criterion queue, and so far have watched a very early one (As Tears Go By).  Next came another early one a much later one.  The Grandmaster is ostensible a kung fu film from 2013.  However, this is the true story of Ip Man, one of the greatest exponents of kung fu (and Bruce Lee's first teacher).  Played perfectly by Tony Leung, the film is artistic in look, quiet in tone and beautifully photographed.  The kung fu fights are still way over the top and too long, but quite toned down from the usual wuxia martial arts films that often come out of Hong Kong.  A bit of Chinese history is given out, too, beginning just before the Japanese invasion previous to WW II.  A great looking film, sensibly paced and with costumes and sets to gawk at, as well as great looking male and female leads.  Highly recommended.

 

Now showing on Criterion. 

 

I'll be back soon.

 

Mapman Mike 

 

Everybody's Gone To The Rapture

This is another brilliant PC game from the people who brought us Dear Esther.  Less a game than an interactive story, Rapture relies largely on mood and atmosphere to beguile the player.  The village of Yaughton is home to an observatory with several telescopes, and it is invaded by a mysterious other-worldly light source, a type of energy that seems to absorb the people of the village.  The player arrives after the town is empty of people, and we get glimpses into their lives and personal troubles as we visit sites that still have particles of energy in them, and pieces of a story to tell.  The player wanders for an entire day, from morning till nightfall, and can go just about anywhere, except when blocked by fences, hedge rows, blockades, etc.  There is even a thunderstorm at one point, humourously added as one arrives at the lake and holiday camp. We are led through the game by a powerful ball of pure energy.  If one gets stumped on where to go next, merely stand still for a few minutes and the energy will reappear and lead the way again.  For PC gamers it's best to turn off the tuning system, otherwise too much time is wasted trying to retrieve messages at certain points.  Once this feature is turned off, simply approach the light source and left click until things begin to happen.  Then step back and watch the show.  Rapture, like Esther, is a sad game with a sad story to tell, and there are some very moving moments.  The game saves itself at certain points, and one has to watch carefully for them, as the game will not allow players to save.  The scenery is quite vivid and spectacular, and the light changes as the day progresses.  The music is good enough to just listen to on its own.  This is a highly recommended game, and worth playing more than once.  I have already played Esther 3x, so I will likely replay this one, too.  A classic!

 

There are "You Are Here" maps scattered throughout the village, so the player can usually find where they are easily.  The entire village gets explored.

 

  

As one wanders in and out of houses and businesses in Rapture, framed art is encountered on the walls.  All of the art is taken from screenshots within the game. 

In Homestead news, another health problem has cropped up for Deb.  She had a bladder and kidney ultrasound lab test last week, and it showed a blockage of some type in one of her kidneys.  She is now awaiting a CTI to further pinpoint the cause and size of this blockage.  This could be the cause of much of her illness over the winter.  She was able to finally go for her routine teeth cleaning last week as well, and we both had some blood work done.  More health news as it happens.

 

I had two excellent starry nights this past session, and managed to stay out four hours each night in sub-freezing temperatures.  I was able to finally observe winter constellations, which are by now nearly gone from view.  Those were my first doable observations since November 7th.  It's been a terrible year for observing, and now that we have daylight savings time I don't get to be till after 2 am.  And that will get later and later as summer approaches.

 

Great Lakes shipping has fully resumed, with the opening of the upper locks sat the Soo.  It's been busy already, with ships gliding by regularly now.  This time of year we have nearly unobstructed views of the river, and the colourful parade of ships, both lakers and salties, are a welcome addition to the neighbourhood activity.  We also have four kinds of flowers booming in our front garden at the moment, too. and today is very warm.  Meanwhile in Sudbury they just had another snowstorm, and Toronto and area is currently amidst an ice storm, with lots of power out in that area.

 

The CSL Laurentien, one of five ships I watch over the shipping season, makes its first voyage of the new season.  It will travel between Quebec City/Montreal and Thunder Bay from late March to late December.

 

The first salty of the year that I managed to see pass by.  This is the Patagonman, flagged out of Singapore.

Our front garden with snowdrops, a dwarf iris, a few well hidden crocuses, and just blooming today, our daffs! 

 

In piano news, it is time!  I begin my performances next Saturday for a few piano friends, then again on April 11th for non-piano friends, and once again sometime after the 20th.  The program is made out, and I will post it here soon.

 

In film news there is one to report.  The Saragossa Manuscript is a three hour Polish film from 1965, in b & w.  Deb found out about it on one of her film blogs, and found it playing on Youtube in a very decent print.  Modeled somewhat on Canterbury Tales and Arabian Knights adventures, the story within a story format can grow a bit confusing at times.  The first part of the film, and the ending, are quite good, but it really sags in the middle a lot.  A strange illustrated book is found and two soldiers, in the midst of a battle for a city, discover it and begin to read it, ignoring what is going on around them.  Then the story telling begins, with supernatural elements mixed in with mundane period soap opera elements.  Recommended as a rare oddity, the film could use some trimming, and perhaps male leads who are a bit more attractive and lively to watch.

 

The film is playing on Youtube.  It is as good print, and the yellow subtitles help a lot. 

 

Mapman Mike